In a little over 48 hours, ABC will air a five-hour “docudrama” on the 9/11 attacks.
Public outrage is mounting across the country, and Variety reports that ABC is now “mulling the idea of yanking the mini altogether.” ABC TV should have no role in the political exploitation of 9/11 or the spreading of propaganda to millions of people across the country.
Please, demand that ABC withdraw this irresponsible affront to the public trust by signing the MoveOn.org petition which aims to collect 200,000 signatures today and deliver it to ABC TV tonight.
The fictionalized account was written and produced by a right-wing activist who freely admits that he fabricated key scenes. In addition to ex-members of the Clinton administration, Democratic and some Republican members of Congress, and a large cross-section of the public, the authors of the 9/11 Commission Report are joining the protest against “The Path to 9/11” 9/11 Commissioner Bob Kerrey:
“If you’re saying this is based on the 9/11 Commission report, there are substantial factual discrepancies. You need to get [them] out. … You can’t sit there as ABC and say, ‘Gee, we don’t have any responsibility.”
While I agree that this is a travesty that should have never seen the light of day, I have two problems with simply yanking it.
1) I expect a fair number of right-wing mouthpieces will be less honest than the film’s writer and will spin this as “loony lefties supressing the truth.” It doesn’t matter that they would be incorrect; there are plenty of people who would find that emotionally appealing.
2) Lies can’t be refuted by supression, only by discussion.
It would be so much better if ABC were required to air frequent and honest disclaimers along the lines of “Significant portions of this program are lies. Like this part coming up…” Of course, truth in advertising is a lost art.
Alternatively, it could be replaced with something about 9/11, but factual and with critical analysis. This should be done regardless of whether “Path” is aired or not.
We owe it to all the survivors and to ourselves as a nation.
I love the idea of “frequent and honest disclaimers along the lines of “Significant portions of this program are lies. Like this part coming up…”
You actually made me laugh about this. Thanks, I needed that!
I sent a petition a couple days ago. If ABC is going to be fair, when will they begin work on the follow-up mini-series “The Road to Iraq”?
9/11 – An Attack Against Humanity
I read a very interesting note on meetings between Iran, China, and Russia at misneach blog a couple months ago. I wonder why I haven’t heard much about this anywhere else? The strategic value of developing closer relationships between theses countries is clear to see, for anyone who is paying attention.
China’s rapid growth is fueling an insatiable appetite for Oil.
Russia is looking for any market to sell its products and services. Is Iran hiring? Have they posted any want ads for a nuclear scientist?
Both China and Russia are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Any UN sponsored sanctions against Iran will likely face a veto from one or both of these nations, based upon their own strategic reasons. What is America to do? The military option is unrealistic.
Today, America is over extended militarily and out of touch diplomatically. I am most saddened by the reckless disregard for diplomacy, civility, and sportsmanship the Bush Administration has displayed since 9/11/01. They have managed to pull defeat and division from the jaws of victory and cohesion in the real “war on terror.” Just look at Afghanistan if you doubt this assertion.
The world mourned with us and for themselves after Sept. 11th. The attack on the World Trade Center was not only an attack upon America. It was an attack against all humanity. Citizens of far too many other countries died on 9/11 in NYC.
The other countries and thousands of families who lost loved ones at “ground zero” are fighting their own personal wars on terror everyday. Their lives have been changed forever. How dare we allow our “public servants” to exploit their sufferings to launch a preemptive war on Iraq, while not bringing Bin Laden to justice?
QuestionItNow – Still In Iraq